Away We Go. (Avengers Fan Fiction)

Chapter 22

“...And we will all miss you, Calypso. We wish you well,” Fury said, the last bit thick with tears. It was the first time anyone had seen the Director cry. Natasha wept silently into Clint’s shoulder, quivering with the foreign feeling of grief. Tony made no effort to wipe the tears that made tracks down his face, choosing to let them run free, dripping onto the lapels of his suit. Pepper held his hand, offering any comfort she could. She’d never known the girl, but she knew she must have been amazing. 

She glanced once again at the single photo that stood beside the empty casket. Calypso, standing atop the mountain range, hair whipping around her as she gazed into the camera. It was the only picture they had of her, the only physical proof of her existence.

Pepper cast a look towards the super soldier, spotting him in the first row, hunched forward. His head was in his hands, shoulders shaking. From her spot in the back, she could hear no sound, but she had no doubt he was sobbing.

She learned from Tony that Steve had been the one to know Calypso the best, and that the man was horribly torn up after her death. He’d been out looking for her body, even after the search parties had been called off. 

Thor had gone back to Asgard very suddenly after the whole ordeal, muttering something about a new development with Loki. He’d seemed...puzzled when he left, unsure of something. No one had gotten the chance to ask what was bothering him, but with the clean up of the base no one really had the time. 

There had been no more threats, what was left of the mysterious organization disappearing. 

Pepper watched as the few unnamed agents got up to leave, feet squelching as they trekked across the mud laden pavement. One by one the team left, going their separate ways like they had the year prior. Steve was the only one to go back to the mangled base, wanting to retrieve a few belongings before going somewhere, anywhere really. He needed time, and space and sticking around here would not give him either of those things. 

~~~~

Steve paid little attention to the agents bustling around him as he walked to his room. No one dared approach him, the look of sheer torment keeping them at bay. He didn’t think his heart could take anymore. First, he’d lost Peggy, now Calypso. Two women he’d loved, who he cared for more than anything. 

And now they were gone. 

He briefly pondered what it would be like if she was still here, what could have developed between them. He imagined that she would be smiling, more carefree now that her assailants were gone. He could almost feel the warmth of her hand in his, could almost hear her airy laugh echoing throughout the hallway, could almost see her glowing expression as she launched chocolate brownies across the cafeteria... 

The horrible pang in his heart stopped these silly thoughts.

She wasn’t here. She wasn’t coming back. He’d never see her again. 

He ground his teeth to fight off the inevitable breakdown as he skulked into his room, walking directly to the closet to retrieve his suitcase. He rifled through his dresser, throwing in anything his hands touched. He sank to the floor, zipping up the large case, the tears making it hard to see what he was doing.

They also made it hard to see where anything was.

So when he turned to retrieve something from the nightstand, it’s understandable that he nearly failed to see the item on his bed. 

He blanched, then broke into a round of hysterics, cradling the purple petunia to his chest.